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WORLD RELIGIONS
Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Dominant Religions Today
Religions
of South
Asia
Religion in the Subcontinent
Hinduism
What is Hinduism?
• One of the oldest religions
– About 1500 B.C.E.
– Began in India
• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
• Tolerance and diversity
– "Truth is one, paths are many“
– “There is only one God, but endless are his aspects and
endless are his names”
– “We are not human beings having spiritual experiences;
We are spiritual beings having a human experience!”
What do Hindus believe?
• Hinduism has no formal theology that defines God
• It is henotheistic (acknowledging many but
worshiping only one)
• Brahman—One impersonal Ultimate Reality
– Manifest as many personal deities
• Atman—The soul, Brahma trapped in matter
• Samsara—Reincarnation – Atman is continually born
into this world lifetime after lifetime
• Karma—Spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us
bound to this world (good and bad)
• Moksha—Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman
and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with
Brahman
• Vedas—Truth: myths, rituals, chants
Major gods of the Hindu Pantheon
Brahma, the creator god
Vishnu, the preserver god
Shiva, god of constructive destruction
(the transformer)
What are the spiritual
practices of Hinduism?
• Yoga—seeking union with the divine:
• Guru—a spiritual teacher, especially helpful for
Jnana and Raja yoga
• Bhakti Yoga—worship, seeking union with the
divine through loving devotion to manifest deities
• In the home (household shrines)
• In the temples (priests officiate)
How does Hinduism direct
life in this world?
• Respect for all life – vegetarian
• Human life as supreme:
– Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests &
teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class,
servant class
– Four stages of life – student, householder,
retired, wandering philosopher
– Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social
responsibilities, religious responsibilities
(moksha)
Buddhism
The essence of
Buddhism
 The “middle way of wisdom
and compassion”
 3 jewels of Buddhism:
 Buddha, the teacher
 Dharma, the teachings
 Sangha, the community
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483





BCE)
Born as prince in NE India
(Nepal)
At 29 rejected
luxurious life to seek
enlightenment
and source of suffering
Lived strict, ascetic
life for 6 yrs
Rejecting this extreme, sat in
meditation and found nirvana
Became “The Enlightened One,”
at 35
What is the
fundamental cause of
all suffering?
Desire!
 Therefore, extinguish self,
don’t obsess about oneself
Four Noble Truths
1. There is suffering in the world.
To live is to suffer.
2. The cause of suffering is selfcentered desire and attachments.
3. The solution is to eliminate desire
and attachments.
4. To reach nirvana, one must follow
the Eightfold Path.
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
 Union with ultimate spiritual
reality
 Escape from cycle of rebirth
Buddha –
19c Thailand
Buddha
2c
Pakistan
–
Mandala: Wheel of Life
Motifs

Types of
Buddhism
Therevada
Buddhism
The oldest school of Buddhism
Founded in southern Asia
Focus on wisdom and meditation
Goal: is to become a “Buddha,” or
“Enlightened One”
 Mahayana Buddhism
Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan)
Buddhism “for the masses”
Goal: Not just individual escape from
wheel, but salvation of all humanity
through self-sacrifice of those
enlightened few

Types of
Zen Buddhism
Buddhism
Seeks sudden enlightenment through
meditation, arriving at emptiness
Use of meditation masters
Beauty, art, and aesthetics, such as
gardens & calligraphy
 Tibetan Buddhism
Developed in Tibet in 7c CE
Mix of Theravada and
Mahayana
Include Lamas,
like the Dalai Lama
Growth of Buddhism
Hinduism
only
Caste system
Both
Reincarnation
Cyclical view of history
Belief in a state of
enlightenment (Hindu
moksha, Buddhist
nirvana)
Buddhism
only
The Middle Way
(Eightfold Path)
Four Noble
Truths
Confucianism
* 551 – 479 B.C.E.
* Born in feudal
state of Liu
* Became teacher
and editor of books
Li --> Rite, rules, ritual decorum (Binding
force of enduring stable society)
Ren --> Humaneness, benevolence,
humanity
Shu --> Reciprocity, empathy
Do not do unto others what you would
not want others to do unto you.
Yi --> Righteousness
Xiao --> Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)
* Status
* Age
* Gender
1. Ruler
Subject
2. Father
Son
3. Husband
Wife
4. Older
Brother
Younger
Brother
5. Older
Friend
Younger
Friend
* Single most important Confucian work
*Knowing what he knows and knowing
what he doesn’t know, are characteristics
of the person who knows.
*Making a mistake and not correcting it,
is making another mistake.
*The superior man blames himself; the
inferior man blames others.
*To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.
* The emperor is the example of
proper behavior --> father
* Social relationships are based on
“rites” or “rituals”
* Even religious rituals are
important for SOCIAL, not
religious reasons
INDIA
CHINA
1. Brahmin
1. Scholar-Gentry
2. Kshatriyas
2. Peasants
3. Vaishyas
3. Artisans
4. Shudras
4. Merchants
Untouchables
Domestic Slaves
Legalism
* 280? - 233 B.C.E.
* Late Warring States
period
* Legalism became
political philosophy of
Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty
1. Human nature is naturally selfish.
2. Intellectualism and literacy is
discouraged.
3. Law is the supreme authority and
replaces morality.
4. The ruler must rule with a strong,
punishing hand.
5. War is the means of strengthening
a ruler’s power.
One who favors the principle
that individuals should obey
a powerful authority rather
than exercise individual
freedom.
Daoism
*604 B.C.E. - ?
* His name means
“Old Master”
* Was he Confucius’
teacher?
1. Dao [Tao] -- first-cause of universe, a
force that flows through all life
2. Believer’s goal is to become one with
Dao; one with nature
3. Wu wei --> “Let nature take its course.”
--> “The art of doing nothing.”
--> “Go with the flow!”
4. Man is unhappy because he lives according
to man-made laws, customs & traditions that
are contrary to ways of nature
To escape “social, political, & cultural
traps” of life, one must escape by:
1. Rejecting formal knowledge and
learning
2. Relying on senses and instincts
3. Discovering nature & rhythm of universe
4. Ignoring political and social laws
* Masculine
* Feminine
* Active
* Passive
* Light
* Darkness
* Warmth
* Cold
* Strong
* Weak
* Heaven;
Sun
* Earth;
Moon
How is a man to live in a world
dominated by chaos, suffering, and
absurdity??
Confucianism --> Moral order in society
Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order
Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and
less government to avoid
uniformity and conformity
Judaism
5
Judaism
Monotheistic, believing in one true God
Omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent
Unity and singularity of God as He is
revealed though Torah
Sh’ma–cornerstone of all Jewish belief.
Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our
God, the Lord is one.”
Israelites believed they were God’s “chosen
people”
They believed that God would lead them to
“promised land”
Judaism
Born in grace, live in grace, and die in grace
 Sin is not fact of birth, it is matter of choice
Olam Ha-Ba: “The World to Come”




Messiah will reign
Jewish temple will be rebuilt
Nation of Israel will be fully restored
World order of justice and compassion.
5
Teachings on Law and Morality
Jewish prophets, or spiritual leaders,
preached code of ethics, or moral standards of
behavior
Torah—laws that addressed all aspects of
life, from cleanliness and food preparation to
criminal matters
Ten Commandments
Significant Jewish Holy Days
Shabbat – Sabbath–day of rest
Friday sundown through Saturday sundown
Prohibited: work, travel, commerce
Yom Kippur –Day of Atonement
Atone for sins of past year – sins between man and God
On Yom Kippur, judgments of God are entered into “the
books” and then sealed
Rosh Hashanah –New Year, plan better life and
begin introspection
 Passover –commemorate Israelites’ escape from
Egypt
Personal journey from slavery to freedom
Christianity
EARLY CHRISTIANITY
• Roots
– Judaism
– Teachings of John the Baptist, Jesus, and
apostles
• Earliest converts were Jews who did not
think they were breaking away from
Hebrew Law
– Early Christians wished to be considered
Jews
• Jewish religion officially recognized by Roman
government and its adherents had certain
privileges
BELIEFS
• Based on belief that Jesus is the
Christ/Messiah, the son of God
– One of Trinity
• God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit
– Teachings
• In Gospels (First 4 books of New Testament …
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• 12 disciples
– Death at 33
• By believing in Jesus, his followers will
go to Heaven at their death
• Bible is Word of God
• Holy days—Christmas & Easter
Islam
An Abrahamic Religion

Strict monotheists

Believe:
Allah,
Torah
same as Judeo-Christian God
and Bible, like Qur’an, is word
of God
Abraham’s Genealogy
The Prophetic Tradition
Adam
Noah
Abraham
Moses
Jesus
Muhammad
Origins of the Qur’an
 Muhammad received first revelation
from angel Gabriel in Cave of Hira
in 610

622  Hijrah  Muhammed fled
Mecca for Medina
* Beginning of Muslim calendar

Muhammad’s revelations compiled into
Qur’an after his death
Qur’an
 114 suras (chapters)

Written in Arabic

99 names for Allah
1. The Shahada
 The testimony

The declaration of faith:
There is no god worthy of
worship except God, and
Muhammad is His
Messenger [or Prophet].
1
2. The Salat
 The mandatory prayers
performed 5 times a day:
* dawn
* noon
* late afternoon
* sunset
* before going to bed

Wash before praying

Face Mecca and use prayer rug
2
2. The Salat
 The call to prayer by muezzin
in minaret

Pray in mosque on Friday
2
3. The Zakat
 Almsgiving (charitable donations)

Muslims believe that all things
belong to God

Zakat means both “purification”
and “growth”

About 2.5% of your income
3
4. The Sawm
 Fasting during holy month
of Ramadan


Considered method of selfpurification
No eating or drinking from
sunrise to sunset during
Ramadan
4
5. The Hajj
 Pilgrimage to Mecca

Must be done at least once in
Muslim’s lifetime

2-3 million Muslims make
pilgrimage
every
year
5
5. The Hajj
 Those who complete pilgrimage
can add the title hajji to
their name
5
The Dar al-Islam
The World
of Islam
1
2
3
4
5
The Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem
The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount
Other Islamic Religious Practices

Mosque=Muslim place of worship

No alcohol or pork

No gambling

Sharia  body of Islamic law to
regulate daily living

Three holiest cities in Islam:
* Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem
Essential Question:
Why was Islam able
to spread so quickly
and convert so many
to the new religion?
The Spread of Islam

Easy to learn and practice

No priesthood

Teaches equality

Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the
Book,” were allowed religious freedom,
but paid additional taxes

Easily “portable”  nomads & trade routes

Jihad (“Holy War”) against pagans and
other non-believers (“infidels”)
Countries with Largest Muslim Population
1. Indonesia
183,000,000
6. Iran
62,000,000
2. Pakistan
134,000,000
7. Egypt
59,000,000
3. India
121,000,000
8. Nigeria
53,000,000
4. Bangladesh
114,000,000
9. Algeria
31,000,000
10. Morocco
29,000,000
5. Turkey
66,000,000
* Arabs make up only 20% of total Muslim
population of world
Split in Islam—Sunni & Shia
Stemmed
Dates
Who
from political differences
back to death of Muhammad
should lead Muslim nation?
Split in Islam—Sunni & Shia
Split in Islam—Sunni & Shia
Sunni
Muslims
Leader
should be elected from among
those capable of the job
This
is what was done
"Sunni"
in Arabic comes from word
meaning "one who follows the traditions
of the Prophet"
Split in Islam—Sunni & Shia
Shia
Muslims
Leader
from Prophet's family
Appointed
by him, or among Imams
appointed by God Himself
Leadership
should have passed to his
cousin/son-in-law, Ali
Follow
line of Imams appointed by
Muhammad or God Himself
"Shia"
in Arabic means supportive group
Split in Islam—Sunni & Shia
Sunni
Muslims believe there is no basis in
Islam for hereditary privileged class of
spiritual leaders
Believe
no basis for veneration or
intercession of saints
Believe
leadership is not birthright, but
a trust that is earned
May
be given or taken away by
people themselves
Split in Islam—Sunni & Shia
Shia
Muslims believe that Imam is sinless
by nature
His
authority is infallible as it comes
directly from God
Often
venerate Imams as saints and
perform pilgrimages to their tombs and
shrines hoping for divine intercession
Split in Islam—Sunni & Shia
Other
differences touch all
detailed aspects of religious life:
prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, etc.
WORLD RELIGIONS
Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism
Judaism
Christianity
Islam